Six Months of Baybus OnDemand: Wins, challenges and fare adjustments ahead

Since launching in March 2024, the Baybus OnDemand trial in Tauranga South has been reshaping public transport. Now at its six-month milestone, the trial has delivered promising results and highlighted opportunities for improvement.

Wins:

• Patronage growth: The service has carried 18,798 passengers in six months, a 536% increase compared to the fixed Route 51 service it replaced.
• Customer satisfaction: 93% of riders have given it a five-star rating, and 92% recognise the current fares as good value for money.
• Accessibility improvements: The service offers 1,600 virtual stops, up from the 150 stops available under the fixed-route model.

Challenges:

• Financial viability: Running a high-quality, flexible service like Baybus OnDemand comes with unique costs compared to traditional bus routes. Fare revenues for the most recent quarter (July to September 2024) recovered only 6.2 percent of costs.

Fare adjustment:

• Fare increase: To ensure the service remains sustainable, Regional Council plans to adjust fare pricing in 2025, increasing the adult full fare to $5 and the Bee Card fare to $4.

Oliver Haycock, Bay of Plenty Regional Council’s Public Transport Director, says fare adjustments are necessary to ensure the service remains sustainable.

“This service is about creating better connections, but we also need to make it financially viable. To test how customers respond to pricing changes, we’re proposing fare adjustments that balance affordability and sustainability.”

The Baybus OnDemand trial is expected to continue until September 2025, with further reviews planned at the 12-month and 18-month points. Data collected in the coming months will help inform future decisions about the service’s long-term potential.

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To find out more about the six-month review and what’s next, check out our website: Six Months of Baybus OnDemand